Portable Wheelchair Ramps

Wheelchairs are a huge help and offer freedom of movement to mobility challenged people. You can use them in a number of places like your home, market, or work place and that too at times without any help from a caretaker.

To make their use more comfortable wheelchair ramps are now available which help in negotiating curbs and steps easily. If you have ever tried stowing a wheelchair into a car you would know how difficult it can be, a wheelchair ramp in such a situation makes the process much simpler. You can also use the ramp for making up for height differences.

Depending upon the main feature of the ramps, they can be classified into four different groups- longitudinally and horizontally folding ramps, fixed dimension ramps and telescopic ramps, which are further divided into reverse profile ramps and “U” shaped gutter ramps.

One type of wheelchair ramps available today is the Track Wheelchair ramps. These line up with the wheelchair wheels and use a telescoping design which can be extended for use on vans, curbs, or steps. You can use them with both electric and manual wheelchairs. They are made of anodized aluminum. Another type is the Threshold wheelchair ramp which can be used both indoor or outdoors thanks to the lightweight aluminum it is made up of. You can use them to negotiate problem areas like doorways and can have them fitted permanently or you can move them from one place to another.

Modular ramps which include platforms, supports, flanges, wheels, integral landings, handrails, and self-contained leveling systems can be designed for semi permanent or permanent installation. You can even request for custom dimensions and the manufacturer will send you the same with the installation instructions. The single fold ramps are highly portable to carry around and can be set up easily; the multi fold ones have additional advantage of extra length which will help you maneuver taller obstacles easily. Another design of portable wheelchair ramps are the Roll-up ramps which have hinges for easy folding and storage.

The telescoping wheelchair ramps are multi-purpose ramps and can be used for variety of purposes and lengths. And lastly, the van wheelchair ramps will help you in stowing the wheelchair into your van and is made with a non-skid driving surface for added safety. They can take weights up to 800lbs while they themselves are lightweight due to the high strength aluminum that they are made up of.

Finding the right wheelchair ramp may be a little difficult because there are so many options available but once you have bought one, you will find that it will make moving around a lot easier for you.